Newsletter 20.03.2026 - Manor High School

Headteacher’s Update

Dear Families

As we edge towards the final week of the Spring Term, finally the arrival of some sunshine has brought a welcome change to our environment and a positive outlook across school has been evident. I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents and carers of the importance of maintaining our uniform standards as the weather changes. Blazers are expected to be worn at all times, and I would be grateful for your continued support in ensuring that your child leaves for school dressed in full school uniform. This consistency reflects our commitment to maintaining high standards across all aspects of school life.

This week, I extend the warmest of wishes to all members of our school community who are celebrating Eid. Our assemblies last week focussed on this significant occasion, and I would like to acknowledge the admirable conduct of our students who have been observing Ramadan. The dedication they have demonstrated throughout this month have been exemplary and truly reflect the school core value of Resilience. This week, we welcomed representatives from the local church to discuss Easter with our students. Both of these assemblies reflect the diversity of our school and help to allow us to make sure students are culturally aware and understand the equal value of each others’ beliefs.

Our Year 11 students have now commenced their final examinations, with Drama practical assessments taking place this week. The focus and preparation demonstrated by these students has been commendable, and we are confident that their hard work will be reflected in their results. Our Languages spoken examinations will begin after Easter, so the exam season is very much upon us. The Year 11 parents’ evening scheduled for next week represents a crucial opportunity for parents to engage with subject teachers regarding the final stages of examination preparation. I would encourage all parents of Year 11 students to attend, as this will be the last occasion to discuss with teachers what is required on this critical finishing stretch. Additionally, we will be running Easter revision sessions in the first week of the holidays for selected students. Where students have been invited to attend these sessions, we ask that parents support us in ensuring their attendance, as these sessions are tailored to the groups invited. The aim is not only for subject content to be revisited and exam craft to be developed, but they also really help students keep the momentum needed over the Easter break. Our messages are to make the sacrifices needed now, there is a nice long summer break ahead for Year 11 once their exams are over. To maximise the benefit of these final weeks, it is essential that students maintain excellent attendance, as teachers are delivering targeted revision content to address any gaps identified in recent practice examinations. The correlation between attendance and achievement has been communicated consistently to both students and parents, and this remains a priority as we approach the examination period. Finish well and finish strong!

However, the foundations for a strong finish are put down way before Year 11, and the same messages apply to all year groups. Attendance at school is crucial to developing good habits. As is coming to school on time and fully equipped. We are grateful that the vast majority of students do this every day without thinking. Whilst students do use iPads to complete work they still have exercise books that they write at length in, so in addition to an iPad and stylus they still must bring the traditional pen, pencil etc to lessons. We will be reminding students of the expectations around equipment over tutor times next week.

Finally, in my update a few weeks ago I informed you of the outcome of our surveys to parents, students and staff regarding the structure of the day and the overwhelming outcome being a preference for a move to 4×75 minute lessons a day from the current 3×100 minute model. We have done some work on what this is likely to look like in the next academic year and this is below-

08:40 – 09:00 Tutor Time

09:00 – 10:15 Session 1

10:15 – 10:35 Break

10:35 – 11:50 Session 2

11:50 – 13:05 Session 3

13:05 – 13:50 Lunch

13:50 – 15:05 Session 4

We have thought long and hard about this model and feel this will be the best option moving forward. We have discussed having two lessons before breaktime, but this makes for a very long wait for food which may result in students who do not have the most substantial of breakfasts having to wait a long time for breaktime. We also considered one lesson after break and before lunch. This would result in a rather early lunch time. It also means there would be two lessons after lunch. This would mean 150 minutes of learning after lunch. This is a long time for students and research would state it is too long for learning to be maximised as a result of concentration waning. We have considered a ‘split’ lunchtime too, (different year groups having their lunch break at different times) but the layout of our site means that this may be distracting if some are outside at lunchtime whilst lessons are taking place.

There is no change to the start and end time of lessons and we will continue to support breakfasts before school too. I believe strongly that all students should be able to have breakfast and therefore we will continue the offer of free porridge available from our kitchen for every student that would like it.

With best wishes

Mr S Greiff

Spirit Week – Celebrating Belonging at Manor High

We are excited to be launching our upcoming Spirit Week — a themed week dedicated to fostering a strong sense of belonging across our school community. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate school pride while encouraging creativity, student voice, and leadership.

This week has been designed and led by our Student Leadership Team (Year 10–11), who have invested a significant amount of time, effort and thought into planning the activities. We are incredibly proud of their initiative and commitment to making this a meaningful experience for the whole school.

Throughout the week, staff will also be sharing personal stories about their upbringing, interests, and passions, helping students to build stronger connections with those around them.

What’s happening during the week:

Monday: During tutor time (usually our Character Curriculum session), students will take part in activities focused on sharing their own hobbies and interests. These sessions are designed to help students and staff get to know each other better. Research consistently shows that strong relationships in schools lead to improved wellbeing and academic success.
Tuesday: Students will have the chance to showcase their creativity by designing a Manor High Easter Egg that represents the very best of our school. The winning design will receive an Amazon voucher, and the egg will be brought to life.
Wednesday: A bake sale will be held to raise funds for the Year 11 Prom. We welcome contributions and support from across the school community.
Thursday: Students will step into leadership roles by leading tutor time sessions. They will deliver activities linked to our weekly core value of inspiration, developing confidence and communication skills.
Friday: A special opportunity for one student to present our weekly Celebration Friday video to the whole school. This presentation, usually delivered by Mr Cross, highlights achievements in sport, academics, attendance, and conduct, with rewards and recognition included. We are inviting students to apply for this exciting role.

We are really looking forward to a positive and uplifting week that showcases the talents, leadership, and character of our students, as well as the strong sense of community we are building together.

Sparx Maths Student of the Week

We’re delighted to celebrate this week’s Sparx Maths Student of the Week! This recognition is awarded to Shreya of 10.6 who has shown outstanding effort, determination, and commitment to their independent learning on Sparx. Their hard work not only strengthens their mathematical skills but also sets a fantastic example for their peers. Well done – we are very proud of their achievement!

School Clubs

Meet the Governors

Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to the dedicated governors who support and guide Manor High School. Our governing body plays an important role in helping the school provide the very best education and opportunities for our students.

This week, we are pleased to introduce two more governors –

Grace Brown, Vice Chair of Governors

“I have been the Head Teacher of Brookside Primary School for 11 years and bring 25 years of leadership and educational expertise across primary education to the governing board. I was previously the Chair of Governors and have served on the governing board now for 3 years.

My background enables me to contribute to governance in the following areas:

SEND provision and inclusion, curriculum development and teaching standards, particularly in English and literacy, strategic leadership and school improvement, staff development and performance management as well as safeguarding and pupil welfare. I have a strong background with Special Educational Needs and Trauma-Informed Practice. I support and challenge the school around these areas to ensure that all Manor High School students have a positive experience. Every child is different and school has a duty to ensure that they do the very best that they can to meet the needs of its students.”

Chris Brett, Parent Governor

“As a parent of two daughters, one currently attending Manor High School and another at a feeder school within the Oak Trust, I am deeply invested in supporting the school to provide the best possible educational experience for all students.

As a school governor, I bring to this role extensive leadership, safeguarding expertise and a strong commitment to education. I hold an MSci in Physics and Astronomy from Durham University and recently completed a Level 7 qualification with the Chartered Institute of Management, further strengthening my strategic and managerial skillset.

As a serving officer with Leicestershire Police, I have over a decade of experience leading high‑performing teams and delivering complex projects. My policing career has given me significant expertise in public protection, multi‑agency working and safeguarding of young people: skills directly relevant to ensuring a safe, supportive and aspirational school environment.”

We would like to thank Grace and Chris for their time and dedication given to the school.

Year 11 Post 16 applications

Schools and colleges may email students directly regarding their attendance. This is normal practice. Currently WQE are emailing any students who have applied to their college but their attendance figures do not meet WQE’s expectation. Please reply to any emails and follow the instructions the school/college gives to you. If you have any concerns or questions please speak to your tutor / year 11 pastoral team.
Students will be hearing back from the schools and colleges they have applied to.
Your applications will say ‘sent’ next to them. This may change to ‘processing’ and / or ‘acknowledged’. This is normal.
Some schools and colleges will contact quickly, others may be nearer the month of March.

Please ensure students check in on PS16 and also onto their emails for any messages etc from schools and colleges. Students must respond to any requests for meetings / interviews and we ask that our students accept all offers they receive. By holding as many offers as possible our students can then make the decision that is best for them on results day in August.

Some students may receive offers before others – please try not to worry and be mindful that the schools and colleges are working their way through a number of applications and they will get to you soon.

Year 11 Easter 2026 Intervention Sessions

Staff remain fully committed to supporting Year 11 students. Targeted intervention sessions will be held during the first week of the Easter break. Please find below a programme for week commencing Monday, 30^th March 2026:

Session	Time	Monday 30.03.26	Tuesday 31.03.26	Wednesday 01.04.25	Thursday 02.04.25	Friday 03.04.25
1	09:00 – 10:40	English X Maths W	Geography History	Science	Food Triple Science	Bank Holiday
Break	10:40 – 11:00	Students bring their own snacks/lunch if they are staying for Session 2 or 3.
2	11:00 – 12:40	Maths X English W	Business Studies Drama Music	Science	Food Triple Science
Lunch	12:40 – 13:00	Students bring their own snacks/lunch if they are staying for Session 3.
3	13:00 – 15:00	Media	Business Studies Computer Science Creative iMedia	P.E.

Parents will have received invitation emails for students who would benefit from intervention sessions in different subjects. Please complete the linked proforma, giving permission for your child to attend. The session will be tailored to help your child with revision in preparation for their final exams.

Please note:

Uniform: Students will not need to be required to wear school uniform; however, they must wear clothing and shoes that are appropriate for a school environment.
Ready to Learn: Students will be expected to bring in their school bag, with their knowledge organiser, equipment, and any additional resources specific to the subjects they study.
Refreshments: Students are welcome to bring a snack and a drink should they wish to as the school dining facilities will not be in operation.
Behaviour: Students will be expected to respect our school standards and routines, follow instructions, and stay focussed on task during all intervention sessions. Same behaviour expectations apply as any other school day, and this includes bringing and using a mobile phone.
Safeguarding: Students who are invited must attend and staff will need to contact home should they not attend. Please ensure students have a safe means of getting to school and returning home once finished.

Students are at an important stage in their studies, and these intervention sessions are aimed at helping them reach their full potential. As our staff dedicate their time to providing this additional support, it is only fair that invited students attend and actively participate to gain the most from these sessions.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Year 11 Parents Evening

Year 11 subject evening will be taking place on Thursday 26^th March. Please ensure to book an appointment using School Cloud https://mhsoadby.schoolcloud.co.uk/ with your child’s subject teachers. This will be the last in-person opportunity for you to discuss your child’s progress and what they need to focus on ahead of their final GCSE exams.

British Science Week

This week, in celebration of British Science Week, KS3 students have taken part in a series of web chats with real scientists!

The topics included STEM careers, Robotics and Aerospace engineering. Discussions ranged from which A levels the scientists had chosen, favourite subjects at school and best aspects of their current role.

There were a total of 12 real scientist who gave their time to our students and inspire the next generation of scientists!

Alumni

We would love former students to come into Manor High School to talk to students (with staff) about their experiences of post 16 education, university, the world of work and more! If you are interested in helping please contact us!

Celebrating success stories

We endeavour to share our students’ positive stories during tutor time and where we can during assemblies. If a student has achieved or accomplished something please do share it with your tutor. Your tutor will be able to celebrate this during in tutor time and share with the relevant Standards and Progress Leader. We can then use some to celebrate with the whole year group in assembly. We have so many amazing students and we want to share as many of their positive stories as we can

Attendance

Following the success of non-uniform day for our top performing tutor groups in February, we are running the same incentive in March. Make sure you are in school to try and earn your tutor group a non-uniform day.

Attendance matters – we love seeing our students in school as they are a part of our community and being in school helps them to maintain social interactions and of course progress with their knowledge and understanding in their subject areas. Students are expected to be in school for 190 days per year. Please do avoid taking your child out of school. By being in school students can:

Develop friendships further
Interact positively with peers
Interact positively with staff and learn about developing professional relationships (key future skill)
Develop key life skills (teamwork, cooperation, communication, achieving success, dealing with setbacks to name a few)
Develop and improve their knowledge and understanding in a range of different subjects areas (giving keys skills and knowledge for their future)

We have created a document around our attendance procedures which can be found on our web site here: Attendance-procedures-Manor-High-School.pdf This is located in our attendance area on the website which is here: Attendance – Manor High School – Oadby

Our attendance figures as of 3pm on Friday are as follows:

Year 11 – 93.5%

Year 10 – 91.7%

Year 9 – 93.6%

Year 8 – 94.8%

Year 7 – 96.0%

Wellbeing, SEND & Safeguarding Update

Message from The Health, Safety & Wellbeing Team at Leicestershire County Council

We have been made aware of general concerns relating to meningitis. There is no need for alarm, however this is a good opportunity to remind staff and families of the importance of recognising symptoms early and knowing where to access reliable information.

Meningitis can affect anyone and symptoms can appear suddenly. Current NHS guidance highlights that urgent medical help should be sought if meningitis is suspected. For trusted information on symptoms, treatment, and when to get medical help, please refer to the NHS page on meningitis: www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/

At this stage, there is no action required other than ensuring staff and parents are aware of the symptoms and know where to seek support if needed.

Start a Conversation

Start a Conversation If you or someone you know is feeling sad or having a hard time, there is help. You are not alone. The “Start a Conversation” campaign wants to help people who are struggling with their feelings or thinking about suicide. It’s important to talk openly, share good information, and support each other. Mental health matters to everyone, and talking about it can help people feel better. This campaign is run by Leicestershire County Council and supported by other organisations who work together to stop suicide and help people stay safe.

Young People Interview Training

Would you like to help shape the Teen health Service? Would you like to be involved in the recruitment process within the team? Would you like to have a say and have your voice heard?

If you have answered yes to the questions above, we have an exciting opportunity for young
people aged 11-19, to access training to be involved with the recruitment process for Teen
Health, within the Family Help service – please see this leaflet for more information – Young People Interview Training Leaflet

Operation Encompass

We are sharing a letter this week that follows on from information we have shared regarding Operation Encompass. This will help you to understand the role of Operation Encompass and how it supports the child. If you have any questions please let us know.

Dear Parent/Carer,

We are writing to let you know about an important update to Operation Encompass, the national scheme that helps schools provide timely support for children who may have been affected by domestic abuse.

From 23 February 2026, our school will receive an automatic notification from Leicestershire Police if they attend a domestic incident where a child on our school roll is present.

The purpose of this notification is to allow our staff to provide appropriate care and support for any child who may need it the next day, such as check‑ins, pastoral support, or wellbeing monitoring.

Why this matters

Operation Encompass is designed to ensure schools can act quickly and sensitively when a child may have experienced something upsetting or frightening at home. It does not involve sharing information with other parents, pupils, or staff who are not directly responsible for safeguarding your child.

What this means for you

You do not need to take any action. This process will happen automatically and securely between Leicestershire Police and the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

If you have any worries about how your information is used, or if you would like support around domestic abuse, please contact the school’s safeguarding team or visit local support services such as UAVA (0808 80 200 28) for confidential help.

If you feel your child needs extra support for any reason, including experiencing domestic abuse, please continue to reach out to your school’s safeguarding team.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to keep all children safe.

Kind regards,

Simon Greiff

Head Teacher